USA had an amazing run in the recent Confederations Cup, making it to the finals to play Brazil. The underdog US team lost to the Brazilian team 3-2 but showed the world that the US has their foot in the door in a late blossoming sport for our country.
The FIFA Confederations Cup is an association football for national teams, currently held every year by FIFA. Six teams compete from the six different divisions from the FIFA qualifications including last year’s FIFA winners and the host country for the cup. The teams that competed in 2009 cup were South Africa, Iraq, New Zealand, USA, Spain, Brazil, Italy, and Egypt.
USA has had some experience competing in the Confederations Cup, having played in the past three and placing third in two. Although the Americans are not none to be a dominant threat in the world wide sport of football, they have placed in the teens and high twenties in the previous years in the FIFA cup.
USA first games were against Italy and Brazil losing 3-1 and 3-0. At this time USA had a very slim shot to not only make it to the semi-finals but to not be eliminated from the Confederations Cup. The US had one shot to keep their team going, needed to have a six-goal turnaround to keep from being eliminated. The US needed to beat Egypt 3-0, and have Italy loose to Brazil 0-3. With a little luck and a lot of talent against the Egypt team the United States got exactly what they wanted with a victory over Egypt.
In Bloemfontein, South Africa, the world was shocked yet again to see the talented team beat Spain after their huge win against Egypt. USA beat the mighty and fearful Spain which dominated in the 2008 Euro Cup, 2-0. With the victory over Spain the United States made it to the Finals or the first time since they started playing in 1916.
Final game in the Confederations Cup was the United States versus Brazil. The US showed a tremendous amount of effort keeping the score 2-0 in the first half. The first goal was by Clint Dempsey with a cross. Second goal was scored by US loved Landon Donovan with a left foot shot. In the second half Brazil comes back to make two goals, and scores the final goal with a header over US goalie Tim Howard in the 85th minute to beat the US 3-2.
This is the closest the United States has ever gotten to win the Confederations Cup in the history of the sport in the US. Hopefully after the almost victory over Brazil the US will finally be respected as a top nation in football, and still with the FIFA World Cup coming next year I am more than positive the US team will be turning more heads.
-- Patrick Murray
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